Never like these times have we seen themes of self-care and health being brought up so regularly—both on and off social media. The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on us all while we had to figure out ways to find solace and coping mechanisms mostly from our homes. As we wait for the country to gradually open up again, we spoke with Juhi Singh—an Oriental medicine specialist, acupuncturist, and Chinese herbalist, and founder of The Juhi-Ash Center, a holistic wellness hub in New York City focusing on integrative medicine, acupuncture, and Ayurveda—about the little things you can implement in your life to manage stress and practice self-care at home.
How can one practice holistic wellness and self-care at home?
"Awareness is key. Awareness of your thoughts. Awareness of your body. Awareness of what you fuel your body with. Practice recognizing which of your thoughts are true and which thoughts are not. Particularly with self-judgement. If you continually catch yourself thinking, Ugh, I have awful hair, then look into the mirror. Do you really? I am going to guess, no. Wink at yourself and compliment your hair. Does that sound silly to you? Trust me, it's not. You condition your thoughts like you condition your body. It is also very important to move that well-cared-for body. Run it out, dance it out, exhaust it with short intensity. Then stretch it out with yoga. Yoga is multitasking at its best, easing your mind and body. Eat as clean as you can. An Ayurvedic diet has respect for the seasons. With mild weather, you ease out of root veggies and warming foods to lighter fare. Holistic means "whole." The whole picture is probably pretty good. It just takes a bit of practice to truly love yourself. And like any practice, you will occasionally fall short. Give yourself a break and get back in the game."
Do you have any useful stress-relief tips?
"Lavender is great for relaxation. But sometimes lavender just doesn't cut it. Sometimes you have to go BIG and just punch an inanimate object that you can't hurt or that can't hurt you. I'm a big fan of pillow-punching. My bed is covered in pillows to catch tears and left hooks. Sometimes you relieve stress from meditation music and a warm bath. Sometimes you have to ante up. I'm all about upping the ante. How do you make one plus one equal ten? What works for me at the moment is a cool shower. I love the Kohler Moxie Bluetooth shower head. It's a bit pricey, but I'm worth it, wink, and so are you. Before I had it, I blasted iTunes and lit a scented candle. That works too. Music blaring, favorite soap, favorite lotion, and very importantly... shave my legs. Then I slip under freshly laundered sheets with one small square of my preferred chocolate. There's a reason hotels leave them on your bed. A bit of indulgence says I am worth it. Learn to accept yourself. Even if you forget to shave your legs."
What are some of your favorite beauty and wellness products to use at the moment?
"I am always looking for the best in the category. Vetting them by science and results. My home and cupboards are a one-woman research expedition. I do this so that I only recommend what I believe in for myself, family, and friends. I am lucky that my dear friend, Petra Nemcova, is like-minded. Petra and I have been best friends for sixteen years. She is my sons' godmother. I have never seen her do anything without 100 percent commitment. I am so delighted and proud of her new venture, Ace Of Air. This line of wellness products does not fall beneath her high-integrity standards. It cares for the health of humans and the health of the planet. The use-return-recycled packaging philosophy is brilliant. What's in the bottle is as pure as Petras' heart. As always, my focus is on products strengthening the immune system. Your immune system does not run full-power without supplements. Yes, the bulk of your nutrients should come from diet, but there are nutrients the immune system needs that are not produced in optimal quantity by the foods you eat. Unless, of course, you are eating kale 24/7, and even that won't do it. I do not go a day without Pure Essentials supplements. It is the highest purity and efficacy available."
Top photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@juhiashcenter
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