Sasha Nelson | Source | Integrative Health & Wellness Coach at Self Employed

The concept of “wellness” can be so confusing and convoluted sometimes, especially when used in clever marketing tactics. The same goes for wishy-washy descriptors like “all natural” or “anti-aging,” or when using wellness as a form of perfectionism...

I myself have gotten caught up in this spiderweb of what is “good” vs “bad” in a sincere effort not only to heal myself and the planet, but also admittedly to “fix” the things I thought were “wrong” with me.

...It’s not surprising that many of us are constantly trying new things that we’re unsure of because someone else tooted the horn of said thing, which can either A. surprisingly work out very well (whether long term or briefly – the latter resulting in another potential conundrum re: what’s next?) or B. surprisingly totally backfire.

There are so many general claims being made and supplements on the shelves and superfoods added to fancy beverages in hip cafés – we can easily believe that these things are beneficial for us because of their amazing qualities.

The fact is that different things work differently for different people at different times in their lives, no matter how healing the thing may be.

Leaders in the wellness industry might intend to educate instead of confuse us when presenting the specific foods, chemicals, herbs, lifestyle habits, and so on that are beneficial or harmful for our health, but some of this information opposes each other – like when one person says eating meat is essential while another person claims otherwise, yet both persons have studies to prove their point. When the information being presented is contradictory, the concept of and the theories behind “wellness” can become particularly perplexing…

https://sashayogawellness.com/2024/07/11/how-to-manage-wellness-overwhelm/

Although meditation is a great way to practice mindfulness, we can also aim to be mindful – calmly and consciously aware of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it – throughout our day, from moment to moment.

Whether you’re sitting still or actively in motion, doing yoga or washing a dish, listening or speaking – you can be mindful.

Sometimes we can pause and consciously practice mindfulness for a long period of time; sometimes we can pause in the present moment and take a conscious breath or just pay attention to our surroundings / our experience for a brief moment.

All it takes to practice mindfulness is an intention and commitment to guide the attention back to the present moment... even if you’re thinking about the future... over and over again.

It might occasionally feel better to check out and avoid being mindful if we’re feeling stressed, sad, or in physical pain – we all do it, and sometimes it’s necessary until we’re in a safe place to move through it.

The more we practice mindfulness of our experience, however, the more easily we’ll be able to pay attention and be mindful of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, whether it’s comfortable or not.

This can have a tremendously beneficial effect on our nervous system by learning how to remain as calm and as present as possible in lieu of stressing anxiously about the unknown – which can support our health, relationships, career paths, and beyond.

It can also have a meaningful effect on how we experience and appreciate life – whether it helps us to better understand and move through the difficult moments (including the lessons we learn from them), or fills us with deep gratitude for the wonderful people... and how they nourish us.

Bonus: because mindfulness can result in a clearer comprehension of how we treat ourselves, it naturally ripples into the way we treat others and our planet – all of which can benefit from a bit more attention, compassion, and conscious action.

All in all: mindfulness can be natural, simple, and feasible every single day – from sewing to sitting in meditation – so long as we set the intention and make the effort to give it a go.

https://sashayogawellness.com/2024/08/20/finish-this-sentence-mindfulness-is/

Although I take studying and teaching yoga seriously, there wouldn’t be much joy in it without a sense of play...

I love and believe in the power of alignment, but if that’s all I strictly focused on, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun – or fulfilling.

And if all anyone did was play and party, well… we know how that story goes.

By cultivating a sweet spot between discipline and playfulness in our work, relationships, and everyday lives, we can become less rigid without losing sight of what matters most to us.

This balance teaches us to embrace the benefits of discipline – like focus, consistency, and growth – while still allowing necessary space for joy and fluidity.

https://sashayogawellness.com/2025/01/09/the-sweet-spot-of-structure-play/