Reading as a source of nourishment
Why does a health coach spend so much time reading and subsequently sharing and talking about books? This might be a question if you’re on my website for yoga and health coaching but see many blog posts about book reviews.
Sure, I talk to folks about nutrition, movement, sleep and stress in coaching sessions. But understanding what sparks joy for each person is deeply important. "What lights you up, makes you smile?" are questions I love to ask while coaching.
For me, books spark joy because I see them as portals. They are inspiration, entertainment and knowledge. I have always found more inspiration from reading than from TV or movies. The screen holds less value for me than printed or spoken words. Although I will enjoy a music, nature or cultural documentary from time to time, it's never my 1st choice. The screen moves so quickly, the lights too fast and I feel it kick my nervous system into overdrive.
Reading though, reading is a slower process. It helps bring the parasympathetic nervous system online. Sitting on the couch, the beach, the deck, a hammock at park, I feel more at ease than when engaged with a screen. I can't space out while reading like I can during a movie. It holds my attention and keeps me present.
So when I talk to folks about a healthy lifestyle, books are totally a part of the conversation. They are a way to learn, a form of entertainment and a spark of joy. Books ask us to take time out of the rat race to simply sit and be present with the words. And a Coach I love to learn what helps folk to be present. It might be reading, gardening, drawing, playing music, running or cooking. Whatever helps us be present, I'm interested in that.
I invite you to read for 30 mins a day. And before you say, "I don't have time to do that" take a look at your TV and social media time. In the time you might currently devote to scrolling through cat videos, celebrity fashion choices or a sitting through a Bravo show, you could be connecting more deeply to yourself through a book. Give it a try, let me know how it goes. Like any change, it might be uncomfortable at first. If we're used to eating meat every night for dinner then yes, that tofu swap might be weird. If we're used to a glass of wine after dinner, then the seltzer with lime might hit a little differently.
Meeting change with openness and curiosity, that’s what I tell my clients over and over. Be open to change, be open to connection. Just like an open book ;)