What is the relationship between physical activity, mindfulness, and diet?
That's the answer I found when I recently attended a day-long experience in Abu Dhabi with Nourish Thrive Flow, a new health and wellness community founded by coaches Carlos Mendes, Susie Curtis, and Lana Nasser. This is the question I wanted to ask.
Together, they are on a mission to help people achieve healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. This is the second retreat the trio has hosted, this time with the theme of “community” and was held at The Bridge in Al Qana.
The event consisted of a full day of activities, including two fitness sessions, two mindfulness workshops, and two cooking demonstrations.
I'm no stranger to fitness, I know a little bit about mindfulness, but I'm not a great cook, so I'm not very good at cooking.
During the session, we were divided into teams and received a demonstration of how to use knives safely.
Even though I've learned the tricks of how to use onions correctly (grip them between thumb and forefinger, shake them while cutting, etc.), I still feel a surge of anxiety when I try to finely slice or chop onions.
And although my fear is obvious, I manage to pull it off – I'm sure my cut could have been more concise.
However, this is one of the main principles behind this experience. It means “doing something unfamiliar.”
“I want people to break their boundaries, step out of their comfort zone and change things up a little bit. [I want them to] You come out a different person than when you came in,” says Curtis, a certified master health and wellness coach and mindfulness practitioner. The National.
Nourish Thrive Flow aims to inspire change through engaging and enlightening sessions.
The original idea behind the community came from the founders at Animal Flow, a fitness program that combines elements of bodyweight training and animal-like movement to improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and coordination. was born from the time we spent together.
Nasser, who is also a holistic chef and certified health coach, said that through their unconventional activities, the trio wanted to inspire more people to come together to embrace healthy living in a collaborative way. I will explain. The idea was born for them to pool their knowledge and build their own community.
Mendez, who has 13 years of expertise in the fitness and health industry, said: [brought] “We brought together the best expertise in what we do,” he says, adding that while the two companies are similar in many ways, their differences proved to be their strength in founding Nourish Thrive Flow. explained.
Combining their independent experience and know-how is key, so all retreat experiences will follow a similar format combining fitness, cooking and mindfulness. Instead, the themes that run through all classes change each time for each day's experience.
And even though we knew what the day would involve in terms of its hourly structure, we were given few details to indicate what exactly would happen. This was intentional as the coach wanted all participants to do so with an open mind. without any preconceptions.
“We don't want to promise you that it's going to change your life forever. What we want to promise is that you're going to learn things you didn't know,” says Mendez.
“And when you retire, you will leave feeling satisfied that you now have more information that you can actually use, know how to use, and share with others.”
“Whether you're looking for a permanent makeover or just for a day or two, it's perfect.”
Summer is a quiet time in the capital, so he is planning his next retreat for October, when the weather is cooler and more people return.
But for those who want to learn more about the connection between fitness, mindfulness, and cooking, and are open to meeting new people, the group is looking to run workshops over the next few months in a similar spirit. .
What I learned from experience
As people continue to look for ways to rejuvenate and seek a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, more and more people are turning to wellness retreats.
Retreats are growing in popularity and there is no shortage of them in the UAE. According to the Global Wellness Institute, travel for wellness travel is expected to increase by an average of 21% each year until 2025.
However, the goal is not necessarily to travel far and spend a lot of money. Whether you're looking for a day-long escape or just a few hours, there are many ways to support your health and well-being.
I don't want to spoil the experience for beginners, but here are some things I took away from it.
1) We all have a role in life, and sometimes it changes. In one of his mindfulness sessions, we focus on whether we are a leader, a contributor, or an observer, and what role we will play in which cases. I guessed. For example, who am I at work, who am I in front of friends and family? It was a moment of thoughtful reflection.
2) Cooking is more than just food. It's not just about culture and identity, it's about building community. Passing down recipes from generation to generation and connecting through a shared appreciation of a particular dish can bring people together. “Cooking for someone you love is the ultimate act of love,” Nasser said.
3) Take time for yourself in a busy world. Through two mindfulness sessions, we focused on self-awareness and awareness of the world around us. As things evolve thanks to technology, it's easy to forget to slow down and appreciate the things and people around us.
For more information, instagram.com/nourish.thrive.flow
Updated: May 12, 2024, 4:05 AM