Staying Connected |Akhila Health Newsletter | Vol 4 | Ed 7.11 

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The Annamaya kosha is balanced by eating healthy food, and getting proper rest and exercise. Healthy food recommendations include eating whole grains, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits. Avoiding processed foods and limiting refined grains and red meat go a long way to benefit the body. Rest and relaxation is necessary for the body to maintain good health. Furthermore, self-healing is facilitated in deep sleep states. Simple, self-care exercises such as walking, running, and dancing promote body health and well-being. Yoga and Qigong are other ways to balance the Annamaya kosha. 

Physical movements such as yoga asanas (postures) engage the body, breath and mind, enabling one to become more aware of the body and unblock energy channels. Yoga combines stretching, breathing, mindfulness and meditation to increase strength, flexibility and optimal health. It is a holistic practice that reduces stress by calming the mind and also supports spiritual growth. 

Qigong also engages the body and breath to promote health. Qigong is a sophisticated system with exercises and meditations used to support physical and emotional healing, martial arts, and spiritual/mystical practices. Through gentle movement, breathing, and intention, Qigong allows practitioners to purge toxic energy accumulated in their body from historical stresses and traumas; refill their body with positive, healthy energy; and concentrate and manipulate this life force energy.

These are some ways that we can keep our body healthy, but it is just as important to recognize how our body is feeling. How can we identify where our body may be feeling stress, where we may be holding tension?

A BODY SCAN!

Check out this Body Scan video exercise created by our featured facilitator Zoe Peltz!



Connecting with our bodies is essential for mind-body-spirit integration. Gaining daily awareness of our body’s signals and sensing micro-changes allows us to monitor our body’s needs and adjust accordingly. Body scan is a tool to become self-aware of the body’s signals. Learn more at AkhilaHealth.org!

Key Benefits Include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved sleep
• Enhanced relaxation
• Increased focus and concentration
• Enhanced self-awareness

Quarterly Challenge: Every day for a week, watch and listen to the Body Scan exercise on our website - we hope this becomes a habit, empowering you to be more aware of your physical body's feelings.

TIP: Zoe recommends body scanning if you are feeling stressed, unable to sleep, or want to tune into physical discomfort; however, the great thing about body scanning is that it is an experience unique to YOU and you can do it whenever and for whatever reason. Give it a go, and see how body scanning can improve your wellness journey!

ZOE PELTZ

Zoe is a Bay Area native and graduate of Colgate University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience. With a passion for medicine and science, Zoe is excited to be starting medical school this summer - congrats Zoe! Throughout her journey towards becoming a physician, Zoe has been an advocate for equitable and inclusive healthcare and was thrilled when she found out about Akhila Health and its mission to support underserved women. She has been especially excited about Akhila Health’s focus on holistic and integrative approaches for empowering women. Zoe hopes to use the tools and expertise she’s learned through facilitating holistic wellness workshops at Akhila Health to continue to support underserved communities throughout her career.

What does serving community mean to you?

• ​​Serving my community means using whatever abilities or resources you have (whether that be education, physicality, time, etc.) to support and connect with people who need it.

How do you incorporate mindfulness into your life?

• When I am feeling stressed, I practice some deep breathing exercises and perform a short body scan to ground myself.

What do you enjoy about empowering women through Akhila Health?

• What has been so fulfilling about working with Akhila Health has been helping women understand that they have the agency to make physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that benefit their daily lives. I think so often we believe that we are stuck and cannot do anything to change our situations. And while this may be partly true, we do have the ability to change our attitudes about these situations. Seeing the women we work with start to realize this and begin their journeys towards self empowerment has been such a beautiful experience.



Blueberry Salad with Roasted Pecans & Feta*

We think this vibrant salad captures the essence of the season and provides a delicious way to savor the tastes of summer. Try it today!

*EatingWell

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups spinach and arugula salad mix
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (about 1/2 pint)
• ⅓ cup chopped toasted pecans
• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

• In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, balsamic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add spinach and arugula mix, blueberries, pecans and feta cheese, tossing gently to combine.

Chef's Notes

*Toast the pecans in a 400°F oven until slightly browned and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Our holistic health wellness curriculum is designed specifically for underserved women. We work to address not only their physical health but also their mental, emotional, and social well-being. Our community partners understand the unique challenges that women face when if comes to accessing quality healthcare and wellness resources - that's why they enthusiastically embrace our services. We provide our community partners with complementary stress management and holistic health programs and tools at no cost.

Together we are committed to providing low-income women with the tools and resources they need to improve their health and overall well-being. Additionally, we gain valuable insights from these organizations regarding the unique challenges faced by low-income women, enabling us to enhance the effectiveness of our workshops. 

By working together, we believe that we can truly make a positive impact in the lives of underserved women.

Below we're excited to be featuring one of our newest partners - Charlotte Maxwell Clinic! We hope you get to know them.

Wondering how you can help and stay involved to uplift and support underserved women? Do you want to pay it forward and bridge the gap?

Become an Akhila Health Ambassador - Learn more

Together we can build a happier and healthier future for all women!

“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear.” – Buddha