Why does a software engineer with a degree in Computer Science jump ship to become a nutritionist? We’ll have to do a bit of a flashback to a time when I was ten, and growing up in India.
Plump, BUT not so rosy
It wasn’t easy being a fat kid carrying around an extra baggage of 15kg (30 lb), but even worse was not knowing what to do about it. Lots of solutions were proposed: eat less (I wasn’t eating a lot), exercise more (I didn’t know how). Some said that the fat would roll off as I grew older. It didn’t. Instead, I developed a severe form of vertigo in my teens, sending all my hopes into a whirlwind spin. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of a long, intense journey to return to my essence.
Finding firm ground: Yoga and Breathing
Perhaps due to chance, or as an answer to my prayers, I met an integrative MD (my first Functional Medicine doctor) in the early 90s who taught me specific yoga moves and breathing techniques to help me with my vertigo. Within 6 weeks, my problem of 3+ years was gone (yes, gone). The yoga practice gave me a clear sense of self and a confidence to take on challenges. The exercises fostered my intuition and helped me create my first nourishing diet + walking exercises. The fat began to roll off. And to this day, these remain my baseline eating and exercise plan. One of my deepest life lessons is that when you create a goal with clarity rather than confusion or fear, you can own it for a lifetime.
More troubles and COURSE CORRECTIONS
I thought eating well + exercising regularly was the way to wellness, and that may very well be true in the beginning. But as I juggled work, children, relationships, career, and finances, the balls began to drop one-by-one. Hormones went on a roller-coaster ride + merciless cystic acne scarred the face. Reflections in the mirror turned ugly+ horrible symptoms wrenched the gut (I would learn later that stress = IBS). At the same time, I was working on holistic solutions for host of different issues that my loved ones were facing: asthma, insulin resistance, eczema, severe fatigue, sluggish thyroid. As varied as these were, the common thread that brought them together was the just this : FOOD. Every bite we take is completely within our control (trust me, it's one of our super-powers).
The muddy waters began to clear with the realization that my family’s health depended on mine, and that my health depended on a deeper understanding of the body and mind.
DISCOVERING ORDINARY MAGIC
I stumbled upon an easy to learn self-help method to release the tension of stressful pasts and anxious futures. I dove head first in to Emotional Freedom Technique(aka Tapping) following the work of Gary Craig (www.emofree.com). With time, I developed my own style of tapping. A universal truth emerged as I listened to people's stories and the gifts that they brought with them. It was this... People thrive on different things – their work, art, movement, food, creative thinking, scientific reasoning, or some combination of these, but everyone shines when they are truly heard and appreciated for who they are.
With practice, I (slowly) let go of limiting beliefs and found solutions hiding in plain sight. My health, and the health of those around me began to improve. Well-being evolves as we work towards a balanced plate, seasonal eating, consistent exercise, restful sleep, and joy in our work & relationships. And how does this all come together? Find support, give support, don't worry alone. Therein lies the ordinary magic which brings us the health we seek.
So here I am. My challenges lead me to a graduate education in nutrition and my passion to spread wellness around me helped me create RasaLife.
