As someone, who sees herself as a work in progress, I seek inspiration, motivation, and education from others. I created this feature called "Health 101" to share information with you about healthy living. As illustrated by the different interviews, health comes in many forms.
I am pleased to be able to share this interview with Ieshia Ali aka ShaktiMama, a world traveling Yogapreneur, and my personal yoga crush. Read on, and expect to be as in awe of this wonderful woman, as I am!
How would you define healthy living?
Authenticity.
Taking the time and doing the work to discover who you are as Light Being on
planet earth and how you fit into the sum total of life. I feel we are all a
piece of the puzzle and must take personal responsibility to be a positive
contributor to the sum total not just our individual selves. This requires open
honest internal dialogue followed by courageous and creative actions to live
your most authentic self. When we do not honor and own our authenticity we rob
the world of beauty. The beauty of a Light Being who is not stressed out or
mentally imbalanced because they are trying to fit uncomfortable molds or ideas
of who society or family think they should be. Authentic people tend to make
wiser choices about sustainable living. Sustainable living (methods that
encourage alkaline body, relaxed mind, eco-friendly environments) is good for
the individual (self) and the world (collective) energetically and physically.
Were you always healthy, or was
there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?
For the
most part, my parents were Black Panther Bohemians from California. Socially
aware and politically active citizens who moved our family to Seattle when I
was very young. California and Washington state influence, from vegetarians to
strong Asian inspired diets and medicinal remedies started me on the road to
whole living. As a high school athlete, gymnast, physical exercise was a
constant and I learned to fly and focus as a gymnast. These skills have
sustained me through my life thus far. To keep it real, there was a sketchy
experimental period in my college days, some not so good habits and
indulgences. I smoked cigarettes as it was not yet a horrific abomination as is
today, yet I knew it was bad for the body. I credit my introduction to yoga and
distance running for helping me cut the cravings. Yoga practice with all of the
lovely pranayama (breath work) increased my lung capacity, which fueled my
running. It was a powerful combination for decreasing the cravings and
eventually stopping the habit.
What piece of knowledge would
you like to share with others?
I coined a phrase, “mind tricks the body.” I
truly believe that it is our mind that colors perceptions and defines our experiences
physically and mentally. Learning to tame the mind with a faithful yoga and
meditation practice helps the individual heal the body by becoming in tune with
subtle changes and differences and correctly distinguishing pain form
discomfort. If you’re not willing to be a little uncomfortable you will never
experience an authentic and glorious state of being mentally, physically or
spiritually. One must be willing to name the pain, experience it and finally
transcend it! This is true for extra squats in the gym, 2 additional minutes at
the end of your daily run, or looking inside our own mind and confronting the
baggage and blockages that keep you bound to old scripts and habits that don’t
serve you well. My mom use to warn, “where you find your mind, you will find
your behind.” Yes, mind tricks the body for positive or negative outcome.
What is the one natural product
or practice you can’t live without?
Coconut
oil! It’s great for the hair, body and to cook with. Love it for its
anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties, the saturated fats are good for the
heart and hips…. definitely worth investigating. I keep non-GMO organic bottles
in the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen!
What piece of advice would you
give your 20 year old self?
Never give
away or turn your tools over to anyone else to sculpt your life. No one can
craft or create a better life for you than yourself. The answers will come from
within when you seek in silence and allow the mind to be quiet and receptive.
Follow your intuitions, it is your God given GPS.
What makes you hella fresh?
Love this
question! Drumroll…… I would say like my girl Lauren Hill put it, “I have
diplomatic immunity and every community.” I’m a cosmic bohemian of the Jedi
Federation who has traveled the world and every place I’ve been I have been able
to make a friend or two or 10…. I discovered this about myself when I took a
summer and studied in Spain and traveled Western Europe. The travel bug bit me
and I haven’t stopped yet. I learned If you can make friends, you have the
priceless skill which will attract an abundance of resources and assets. But
you gotta be a friend to make one.
Where can
we find you in the webosphere?
Follow me
here:
FB: Shakti
Yoga Trip
Instagram:
@ShaktiMama
Twitter:
@ShaktiMama001
Webpage:
shaktimindbodystudio.com
Posts
She us amazing. This advice is priceless!
ReplyDelete