Written by Bonnie Chan
Edited by The Fête Chinoise Team
Photographs courtesy of the author

HEALTH AND WELLNESS TIPS

The current pandemic has off-set many plans and forced us to stay at home for the most part, with the exception of trips for essentials. On a positive note, it has paved the way and shone light on the topic of health in a very significant way — encouraging all of us to take the time to reflect on our mental and physical health. 

The “new normal” encourages us to get creative and think of new exciting ways to stay healthy while at home. Maintaining health and beauty takes commitment which includes taking care of the pillars: nutrition, maintenance, yoga + fitness, and mindfulness/meditation. As a Chinese-Canadian, I explore the many ways to maintain health and beauty combining inspiration from both Eastern and Western remedies. It is always a very warm feeling when I can draw from my cultural roots, and apply it to my methodology and routine. What I am about to share works well for me, so let’s do some happy sharing! I hope my tips will benefit you!

Nutrition

When it comes to maintaining health and beauty, I focus on “fuelling” my body instead of “stripping” it of essential food and nutrients. Though it may be common to believe that in order to remain fashionably thin one should eat less, it often translates to a lack of nutrition, a sense of fog, and a tired feeling. Not to mention, when the skin and hair is not receiving sufficient nutrients, it will result in a dry and dull appearance. In comparison, when you are eating healthily by fuelling your body and giving it sufficient nutrients, it will guide you to achieving glowing skin, luscious hair, a toned body, an abundance of energy, and a clear mind. 

The gut is considered as the second brain and aids our body to rid of toxins. Hence, a healthy gut will help you attain better skin and mental clarity. To keep it functioning healthily, we need to consume both “probiotics” and “prebiotics”. Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, pickles, apple cider vinegar and kombucha. Prebiotics include a variety of fiber rich vegetables like kale, spinach, asparagus, and fruits like blueberries and apples. Chia seeds, onion and garlic are also a great source of prebiotics. 

Antioxidants are essential in keeping the skin youthful and reversing the signs of aging. Foods rich in antioxidants include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, and pomegranate. 

Other great ways to keep the skin youthful and glowing, and the hair shiny and luscious is to feed it with collagen and healthy fats. Foods rich in collagen include fish maw, bird’s nest, sea cucumber, snow fungus, fish (including the fish skin), and peach jelly — these all happen to have a strong cultural connection with Chinese tradition! It feels good to know that their health benefits align with their reputations. Foods rich in healthy fats include avocado, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, cacao, and fatty fish like salmon and tuna. 

Of course, it is ideal to consume all of these nutrients via a food source, but if that is not possible, then taking supplements are a good option. Finally, water is the number one beauty secret. Our body needs sufficient fluids to cleanse the body of all the toxins.

Beauty Maintenance

A healthy body requires both interior and exterior maintenance. 

For the face, I enjoy using organic or mild products. I try to do a gentle scrub at least 3 times a week and then apply a moisturizing face mask. I have found that facial exercises work well for tightening the muscles. Facial massages like Chinese Gua Sha shows immediate effects for lifting and getting rid of water retention and bring out bone structure. It also helps with skin elasticity over time. I personally enjoy using a rose quartz Gua Sha tool for good energy. Be sure to apply enough product on your skin so that the tool glides through without tugging at your skin! If your skin turns a slight pink that’s a good sign – it is promoting healthy blood flow! 

For the body, I enjoy dry body brushing before showers. Especially in the morning because it helps with waking the body up by promoting blood circulation and detoxification. Gua Sha on the body is a great way to rid of water retention. It’s also very invigorating and I feel quite energetic after. At least once a week I will do a full body scrub to rid of dead skin cells to reveal soft glowing skin. After showering I will apply on moisturizing oil or cream. I quite like natural products such as organic virgin coconut oil or organic olive oil as they are rich and provides deep, long lasting moisture. Cocoa butter cream works very well for extremely dry skin. 

For the hair, I deep cleanse my scalp with organic products at least once a week. This ensures that your pores are thoroughly cleansed and not clogged, allowing the hair to grow healthily in abundance. Brushing the hair and scalp daily also promotes healthy hair growth. After drying I will apply some hair oil at the ends. Similar to applying body lotion after a shower, it keeps it moist and soft. At least once a week I will do a hair treatment, coconut oil and olive oil works well for me. I apply a generous amount to the ends of my hair and leave it on for at least half an hour. Sometimes I will leave it on overnight allowing the moisture to penetrate deeper into my hair. You’ll notice how much softer and glossier your hair is as you glide your fingers through!

Yoga and Fitness

Exercise is by far the best way to stay healthy, fit, energetic and positive for me. It works better than coffee to wake myself up! I exercise at least 3 times a week and practice yoga every day. Staying healthy and fit is mainly about commitment - the most important thing is to move around each day. So even on the busier days, a short walk/jog, 10 minute workout, or even yoga practice like several rounds of sun salutation is still very beneficial to your body.

In particular to detoxing, it is great to incorporate twists into your yoga practice. Start by twisting into your yoga pose and hold for a period. Once you release yourself from the pose, the blood will rush to your intestines which will aid in detoxification. Twists such as half lord of the fish, revolved triangle pose, and revolved side angle pose are great. A gentle twist such as supine twist and restorative twist are suitable for beginners and easy to do before bedtime. It can help relax and prep the body for sleep. For fitness, exercises that help increase your heart rate and make you sweat aids in detoxing. These may include jogging, running, dancing, HIIT and much more. Get creative! The most important thing is to find something you enjoy doing. 

Mindfulness / Meditation

Perhaps the most important factor to our health is the mindset. Luckily, there is growing interest on the impact of mental health. It is just as important to take time to replenish yourself as it is to work hard for your career and goals. It allows you to come back more energized and ready to achieve your dreams. 

Meditations I enjoy are focused on clarity and focus, relaxing and deep sleep, and manifestation. All of these guided meditations can easily be found on YouTube. Non-guided meditation practices I enjoy include Tibetan purification + Ujjayi breath, Nadi Shodhana, and Bumblebee breathing. If you do not have the time to practice, then simply taking 10 deep mindful breaths work wonders in giving your body a boost of oxygen and awakening your mind + body. The practice of tai chi is nourishing for the mind, body, and soul. The deep breathing aligned with mindfulness in each movement is a great way to start and end the day. 

If you are a believer in the “Law of Attraction” – you attract what you are, and your thoughts become your reality, then you will understand the importance of keeping your thoughts positive. A great tip I learned from the book “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” is to condition the brain to think of something positive immediately after a negative thought arises. Our minds come across thousands of thoughts each day so it is important to be mindful and guide them towards a positive space. Going outdoors and spending time in nature is a great way to uplift the spirits!

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MINDBONNIESOUL

MindBonnieSoul launched the beginning of 2020 at the rise of the global pandemic. With an increased focus on staying healthy and safe at home, I hoped to share my passion and knowledge about holistic living with others. It is something that I have always hoped to do, and it seemed like the right time to dedicate myself to turn it into a labor of love. 

MindBonnieSoul believes that health lies in the balance of the mind, body, and soul. We focus on 5 pillars – Fitness, Yoga, Meditation/Mindfulness, Nutrition, and Beauty. We started as an online platform to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle and welcome others to share their expertise. We are very blessed to have an amazing group of supportive friends in the wellness industry to join us. 

You can find us online at:

Website: MindBonnieSoul.com 

YouTube: Youtube.com/MindBonnieSoul

Instagram: @MindBonnieSoul

Facebook: MindBonnieSoulMBS