WHAT ON EARTH IS WELLNESS?

Wellness (noun)

1. the state of being in good physical and mental health (Collins English Dictionary)

Referring to oneself as a wellness company is brave in today’s growing, and somewhat saturated, health and fitness market. It is an industry buzzword with a vague definition (as seen above) but does it have a deeper meaning? Here at Balima, we want to help clear this up and give our interpretation of what Wellness means to us.

Essentially, we see wellness as a balanced triangle with a symbiotic relationship between body, mind and spirit. To achieve full potential in our bodies we must be healthy physically, mentally and spiritually, the latter often being the most overlooked dimension.
 

As we live in a world where more and more stressors affect our every day lives, it is important to find ways to maintain balance and harmony within ourselves. It is not always easy to know what we need to do in order to achieve this balance as we often find ourselves influenced by others and overloaded with life’s many demands.
 

So what can we do in order to create a life which is calmer and more rewarding for us in every way?
 

First of all, take a look at your body. How are you feeling physically? Do you have pain anywhere ? Do you move well ? Do you exercise daily? Do you like what you see? If there are many negative answers to these questions, then chances are you are off balance with your body.
 

Now take a look at your mind. How are you feeling in general? Are you down? Are you anxious? Are you stuck in a negative mindset? Are you angry or sad or withdrawn? If you are feeling any kind of negative emotion, then once again, you are not balanced or in harmony.
 

Lastly take a look at your spiritual self. What are your relationships like? Are you surrounded by people who inspire you and love you for who you are? Are you in touch with nature? Are you happy in your own skin? Are you in a loving relationship with open communication? If once again, you see that perhaps you are not in a good place spiritually, then chances are you are out of balance and not living within the bracket of Wellness.

In order to be truly well, we must have a healthy, active and pain free body within which we can move and enjoy life. We must also have a dynamic mindset which allows us to grow and succeed in our chosen careers and life choices. We must also maintain spiritual health by nourishing friendships with people who nourish us in return and are connected to us on a deep level.
 

This is what being truly well means. It is not just about eating a healthy diet and doing some exercise, although that is certainly part of it. It is also about living a nourishing and authentic life, where we are kind to ourselves and giving to others. When we take care of ourselves and maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit triad, we are better able to take care of others and enjoy life to the maximum. When one of the triad is off balance, things can begin to wobble.
 

We can take simple steps towards achieving Wellness. It can take time to go from where you are now to where you want to be, but with some patience and consistent effort, you will get there. Remember that it is a conscious process. Embrace the learning stages and enjoy seeing things evolve.
 

• Eat real, all natural foods that are prepared simply.
• Exercise daily.
• Invest time in meditation, massage, social gatherings and walks in nature.
• Be creative.
• Make mindfulness part of your philosophy.
• Be kind, to yourself and people around you.
• Listen to music, dance and laugh.
• Communicate your thoughts and emotions to your loved ones and never hold on to anything that does not serve you.

Take these simple steps daily and slowly but surely you will find yourself traveling along the road to Wellness. In summary, a Balima dictionary definition might look something like this:
 

Agree? Disagree? Let us know what wellness means to you.