Above: Prama Institute & Wellness Center (Photos by Rebecca Bond)
By Leah Shapiro
How often have you found yourself overcommitted and running low on energy? If you frequently feel you’re giving too much of yourself to family, friends, and work, then know you aren’t alone. “We live in a society where productivity and how much you do is valued over how much time you give yourself to rejuvenate,” says licensed nurse and acupuncturist Sarah Wergin, of Kwan Yin Clinic in Biltmore Village. Saying “no” to others can be difficult, so we often pile on obligations with little time to rest in between.
This month, devote some time to developing self-care practices to improve your health. The Prama Institute & Wellness Center in Marshall approaches self-care through a holistic rejuvenation of the body and mind. “The body’s restoration is assisted by graduated juice fasting, nutritional information, yoga for all levels, hot tub and swimming pool, sauna, massage, mud baths, and brisk walks on our beautiful nature trails,” says Sid Jordan, a clinical psychologist and the director of the Prama Institute.
Keep your resolutions on course for the New Year. Winter, says Sid, is a great time to separate from our everyday environments and reset our determination for an improved life. “One of the most important elements of achieving a healthier lifestyle is social support, defined as periodic coaching or checking in with ‘partners-in-health’ who share similar goals on a daily basis.”
Monthly group detox retreats range from five to ten days, and personalized retreats can also be arranged. The next Wellness Weekend Retreat takes place February 5–7 and includes all spa elements, yoga, meditation, hikes, and delicious wellness meals without fasting. A three-day Yoga Detox & Juice Cleanse Retreat is set for February 26–28.
There are many methods that can help us on our journey to wellness, for maintenance as well as acute situations. “With Chinese medicine, specifically with the modality of acupuncture, you are forced to take time out of your day to be still,” says Sarah. For the 20 to 30 minutes that the acupuncture needles are set, clients are given this time to themselves to relax.
“There are different senses that different people are drawn to,” says Sarah. For some, touch is soothing and massage is a preferred option. Others may be affected by sight and prefer color therapy. Working with the Oriental medicine system, acutonics (sound healing), uses calibrated tuning forks, gongs, and Tibetan singing bowls to create a calming effect. Practitioners like Sarah are able to hone in on what works best for their clients’ needs and preferences for self-care.
Kwan Yin Clinic also offers cosmetic acupuncture, or skin rejuvenation. Whether you’re interested in smoothing out wrinkles or lifting sagging skin in the jawline or neck, this five-week treatment helps you preserve a youthful radiance by treating the inside of the body as well as the outside. This gift of self-love treats your whole body in conjunction with improving your skin.
Perhaps one step in caring for yourself can be as simple as getting enough Zs. “People know that exercise is important. People don’t understand that napping and rest is equal to exercise,” says Sarah. “They think of it as a last resort. (Sleep) is just a thing we do. It’s the leftover of our day.” Sarah advises that a 20-minute nap can be a game changer. “A quick nap or making sure you get enough sleep is equal to being a high performance athlete. You need to have recovery time.”
