A Purposeful Mind-Body Approach to Wellness
Written by Melaqui Souraya
Mental hygiene looks a little different to everyone. For some, journaling is really effective, and for others, simply implementing a skin-care routine is a form of self-care that feels really good. Professional and medical interventions are no doubt important and effective, and I also feel there are ways to foster a healthier and synergistically charged mind-body-soul connection. Taking a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being is essential. It is important to utilize various methods to find peace and mental clarity, and to me, that should also include trying to keep your body moving in some way each day.
I grew up pretty active and athletic – I enjoyed basketball, volleyball, track and field, and frequently participated in 10Ks and half marathons. In my adulthood and as a teacher, I enjoyed coaching sports and staying active. When I moved across the country and away from home for the first time, I struggled with severe isolation. Then sadly, within weeks, my partner and I were the first to find and identify a loved one who’d suddenly passed away. In attempts to numb the myriad of feelings and triggers I subsequently encountered, I often turned to food for comfort. Shortly after, I started law school and spent three years and countless hours remaining almost entirely sedentary in the library. Coupled with other factors and events that transpired in my life, my mental health really began to suffer and eventually became almost completely neglected.
It wasn’t long before I found myself 90 pounds heavier and unable to walk without pain, leading to the development of chronic pain and prediabetes. The mere thought of going outside seemed so exhausting and taxing to me. I vividly remember trying to go for a bike ride to the Walmart by our condo, which was about 4 kilometers away. Once we got there, I was so winded that my partner had to bike back home to grab the car so I didn’t have to bike back. On a trip with my sisters and sisters-in-law, I was in so much pain from walking, I would have to stop and change into slippers because my feet would swell and my joints would flare and heat up. I found myself asking “how and when did I get here?” This was not me. I was a long distance runner, a lover of mountain hikes, a certified yoga instructor and advocate for wellness…I couldn’t recognize this person I was becoming.
Somewhere along the line, I resolved to dedicate my energy to safeguarding my peace and mental well-being. It started with walks to the soft sandy beach about 15 minutes away, which soon became 20, then 30 minutes each morning of reflective, therapeutic, purposeful activity. Eventually I was walking for hours, clocking 10-20 kilometers each day, either watching the sun go up or go down. Simultaneously, I took steps to really understand the symptoms of trauma and anxiety, and how to manage them. I began shedding and divorcing myself from aspects of and situations in my life that no longer - if at all - served me, and started expending my energy on things that brought me a heightened level of peace and stillness. Establishing boundaries, relinquishing control of things I didn’t have power over, and surrendering to the “trust the process” adage helped me let go. In the most illuminating way, practicing self-love and cultivating wellness allowed the excess pounds to drop - but more importantly - allowed for my emotional weight to dissipate. The more I practiced these boundaries and strategies, the more weight I lost, the better I felt, and the happier I became. Medications for my prediabetes were no longer needed, and my chronic pain became completely dormant.
Unfortunately, stress isn’t going anywhere. Work exhaustion, burnout, family dynamics, sadness, trauma, and tragedy are all part of the gamut that is the human experience. But our responses to stressful and aggravating events directly impact our health. It takes all my energy to cope and grieve my life’s most recent curveball - the death of my brother. Being emotionally aware and allowing myself the same kindness I give to others has helped this process tremendously over the past year. I am not saying walking or running outside will make life’s problems magically go away. No one is above being human. Being purposeful and consistent about my daily physical activity, however, has created a space for me to go through life’s ups and downs in a way that feels supportive, healthful, and constructive.
These days, I partake in at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity, which always includes getting a minimum of 10000 steps (rain or shine!). Walking and spending time outdoors is very impactful. In addition to the benefits of losing 90 pounds, which lessened the physical load on my joints, I feel mentally lighter. My head is clearer. I sleep better (although I will admit, once in a while, my anxiety wins and I am up all night worried about worst case scenarios). I care a little less about things that cannot be changed. I rekindled my love for yoga, roller skating, and tennis, and now bike ride hundreds of kilometers during the warmer months with no need for a car to come pick me up. Now, I am more active and fit than I ever was as a young adult. Participating in walks and runs have become a daily practice, a form of meditation, and a way to foster the mind-body connection, resulting in an overall improvement in my quality of life.
In the search to find my old self, I do believe I actually found a better, more evolved and more aware version. While I am and always will be a huge advocate for professional intervention and help, I personally find high levels of clarity in moving my body daily, which I believe helped shed that heavy and stubborn emotional baggage.
I will say that walking extensively long distances is absolutely not essential to this process. Just getting outside and breathing in fresh air after dinner or upon waking for just a 20 minute stroll will make a significant and positive difference.
Have you gone outside today yet?
