Inspiring Women Magazine May 2021

months later. My father followed her 18 months
later. So the geographic transition was also rather
challenging.
My mother’s death in 2009 propelled my life in a
new direction. Today I am a spiritual mentor who
helps women to move through a deep loss and
find a way to transform their pain into purpose.
What is wellness?
To me, wellness is well-being that is achieved at
the confluence of a healthy body, mind and spirit.
All wellness must address this trinity: body, mind
and spirit. As three-part beings, what we think,
how we move, and our connection with universal
consciousness influence how well we are. Drinking
a daily green juice alone won’t do it; nor will hitting
the gym five days a week. You can’t wallpaper over
your pain and unmet needs. It is important to do
the work of healing your emotional wounds. Also,
it is my intention to eradicate the idea that
wellness means we must be upbeat and positive
all the time. I think the more pertinent question to
ask is: What is my relationship to what is difficult in
my life?
Becoming interested in wellness
Wellness has been an integral part of my life.
Growing up in India, we ate fresh home-cooked
meals and walked to school. Ritual and devotion
were woven into my life from a young age. I have a
degree in psychology because I was always
fascinated by the inner workings of the mind. My
mother’s death moved me deeper into the realm
of spirit and universal consciousness. Questions of
purpose and meaning have since become all
important. Today those are my guideposts.
After my mother died, I went on a journey of selfdiscovery
and transformation. Healing myself
At a literary festival
kindled a deep desire to hold space for women
grieving different kinds of losses. I also served as a
bedside companion to the dying for five years in
hospice. Many people are misguided in believing
that there is a quick five-step formula to healing
from loss. My work is not cookie-cutter. Every soul
is unique, and each human journey is unique. My
clients and I do the deep work of soul inquiry. Who
am I? Why did I come here? How can my loss
expand me? What do I need to unbecome?
A typical day for me
Joy at seeing the first copy of one of my books!
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I like to begin my day by connecting to “spirit”,
beginning my day with intention. This is something
I bring into all my teaching/coaching sessions, too.
I drink a protein smoothie for breakfast and eat a
green salad for dinner. I also bring ease and
spaciousness into everything I do. I don’t believe in
rushing around. I “listen” to all my emotions and
believe in wholeness rather than perfection.
Meditation, gratitude journaling and prayer start
off the morning. I like to read a few pages of
something inspirational. If I have something
clogging my mind, I do three pages of journaling
and get it out of my system. The day is spent doing
some combination of the following: learning
(courses I’m taking); writing a newsletter to my
community; creating teaching content; facilitating
client sessions; and working on my book.