Health or being healthy is more than just the absence of disease, health is feeling the energy, vitality and love for life. Being healthy encompasses mind, body and spirit.
Too many times our annual physical exams come back normal yet we may feel sluggish, brain fog, fatigue, bloated, tired, stiff and so many other physical, mental or emotional discomfort, cues from our body telling us there is something wrong. We are too busy to listen and have been socialized to accept this as normal. Taking daily over the counter medications to alleviate discomfort is a norm for many and sometimes it is easy to get a physician to prescribe a pill to help us feel better. A pill for every ill to mask your symptoms. Is it normal to take ibuprofen for daily headaches or aches and pains, antacids for Gerd or acid reflux, sleeping aids to help you sleep, gum or menthols for bad breath, coffee for constipation or to stay awake, have a few adult beverages to help you relax? Is it a daily habit?
Zo’s Flow Mindful Fitness came about after I endured over a decade of physical pain, fatigue, brain fog and being overweight. an autoimmune disordered caused changes in my body that spiraled into my mental and emotional self. I powered through life as a wife, mother, educator but inside I was spiraling downward.
It took years to realize that my body was sending me cues that an underlying disease was brewing. At 38 years old, Medical doctors blamed aging and genetics. There was not much to be done. I just had to accept my new reality and take some pills, forever! That was such a poor explanation. I was always exhausted, My weight was a rollercoaster and the yoyo diets did not help. It was taxing to my emotional and mental wellbeing and to my family. In 2011, I switched from a synthetic thyroid prescription to a plant base prescription for my Hashimoto. By 2012, my body was in pain from the moment my feet touched the ground. I felt swollen and stiff. I could not function and resigned from my job to focus on my health and family. My weight skyrocketed to 192 pounds by 2013 because of the medications. I stopped taking all prescription drugs for my Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2013, and began to explore the root cause of my inflammation by looking into my diet and lifestyle. Stress is a huge culprit. I disciplined myself to workout daily at my Crossfit gym. Strength training and functional fitness helped regain strength and bone density loss. I studied yoga in 2015 to help with my pain but realized that yoga goes beyond poses. Learning to listen to my body and controlling my breath saved my life. In 2018 I felt something was wrong with my body that was beyond my autoimmune disorder. I was diagnosed with early stages of cervical cancer. It could have gone undetected because I was going through massive life disruptions in 2017. One common denominator that triggered all my illnesses has been stress. I may have the gene for some of these illnesses but learning to control stress has controlled the illness. There is so much information available today that did not exist 15 years ago. Sometimes too much but I will share what worked and still works for me. I have had no rheumatoid arthritis pain or severe joint inflammation for over 3 years and it remains dormant, no cancer and Thyroid is under control. I am finally happy with the way I look. Loving all my perfect imperfections.
I am stronger and healthier at 56 than when I was in my 30’s. I am grateful every day for the life I live, limit my stress and appreciate and love those in my life that brings a smile to my face. I am a smiler. I live a simple life and have no need to impress anyone nor do I surround myself with people who complain, are angry, bitter or fearful.
In researching ways to heal naturally I’ve switched careers from a stressed out high school history teacher to a fitness, yoga and wellness instructor. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job as a teacher and was good at it but the politics and the long hours were grueling. I have no regrets but there are methods that could have avoided much stress when I was in education. We live and learn.
If my experiences and zest for life resonates with you then follow me.
Functional medicine is a good place to start by looking into the toxicity that exist in your body. Staying well means looking at gut balance, food sensitivity, hormones, digestive system, inflammation level from omega 6 and omega 3 and some lifestyle habits. I went to a holistic doctor to get the tests needed that went beyond the annual bloodwork once I decided to look for the cause of my symptoms. Today, there are many labs or companies that you can request the test without a prescription from a doctor. Detox your body on a regular basis. I started with small steps to achieve lifestyle changes, I allowed myself self care which meant a proper diet that was good for me, exercise and stress reduction. I did not rely on motivation to keep me going but discipline. I never want to feel the physical and emotional pain I lived through again. I invested in an inflatable paddle board 4 years ago and love to be on the water several times a week. I live in Florida so I have over 300 good sunny days. That is my simple joy. My journey to heal took me to explore Ayahuasca in the Amazon of Ecuador, Ayurvedic medicine in India and Thai massage in Thailand. Western and Eastern medicine had a role in my healing. I continue to study and learn. Being open minded allows me to look outside the box. My experiences and lifestyle may not be for everyone but there are many women in their 40s, 50s and beyond that will no longer accept to live with anything less than a quality of life.
Health or being healthy is more than just the absence of disease, health is feeling the energy, vitality and love for life. Being healthy encompasses mind, body and spirit.
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Zo's Flow 