Well… Well? Well!

Well….. well?     Well^!

How are you?

Come stai?

Ca’ va?

An innocuous question that leads to a pondering .   This question encourages us to review what we define as wellness, where our wellness sits, what is valued and consider what can be done to improve.

Wellness is a recent concept that evolved since World War 2 as advances in medical technology meant health included illness and wellness.   Healthcare costs are soaring with the rise in diseases associated with lifestyle factors and socioeconomic policy.   A response to this issue is to examine factors that make populations be well.

My yoga teacher starts a class asking each student “How are you? The responses vary and what I admire is how each of us frame wellness. Wellness is defined uniquely by individuals and expands beyond the physical dimension to incorporate: capacity to move, work/play, feel and eat.

I remember sitting in class with a friend who was waiting for an organ transplant with an Intravenous port, abdominal drains implanted in him responding to the teachers enquiry with “well”.   Once he received a much awaited organ he was even more well! Wellness is dynamic and ever changeable.

Our wellness is influenced by our genetics, nurturing, age, gender – which cannot be altered. We have the power and choice to influence our wellness by adjusting our environment, relationships, lifestyle, exercise and attitude.

Self-responsibility and self love are the keys to owning and creating your wellness.   It takes courage to open your eyes, ears and senses to data on your wellness.   DeNILE is not only a river in Egypt it can be your behaviour that does not support wellness.   Loving yourself enough to claim how you want to live is not selfish.   It impacts positively on others for they too have the opportunity to change as you do.