The Gist: Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the first week of our discussion of Quantum Wellness by Kathy Freston! It will be a shorter month for the book club this month—we will be reading the book in three weeks. This book is a little bit lighter, so I'm sure it will go smoothly. Let's get started!We read the first two parts of the book for this week. In Part One: The Quantum Approach, Freston introduces her term quantum wellness, which is a connection of the mind, body, and spirit. She explains the importance of being healthy in all parts of your life. For example, you could be very physically fit, but if you are depressed emotionally, you will be unable to achieve true wellness. In the second chapter of part one, Freston discusses her eight pillars of wellness: meditation, visualization, fun activities, conscious eating, exercise, self-work, spiritual practice, and service. Practicing these eight things will help you on your journey to wellness.
In Part Two: Clearing the Way, Freston writes about clearing the way on your path to wellness. First, she talks about emotions, and how it's important to figure out what you are truly feeling, be it anger, sadness, or some other emotion. She explains that sometimes our emotions lead to physical ailments, so it's critical to figure out what's at the core. She suggests beginning a journal and just writing what you are feeling at the moment. This will help you to delve into your true emotions.
In the third chapter of part two, Freston advises to do a cleanse of sugar, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and animal products. By doing a cleanse for up to 21 days, it will help to clear the way to better wellness. She also proposes clearing out your physical environment as well, by getting rid of the clutter in your home, to switch to more natural cleaning products and makeup, and to just keep it simple within your space. Too much stuff could block your path to wellness.
The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!
1. What aspect is most important to you right now on getting healthy—the mind, body, or spirit?
2. Have you ever done a cleanse? If so, what kind, and how did it make you feel emotionally and physically?
The Assignment: Please read part three of Quantum Wellness for our discussion on Monday, December 13.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I think they are all important. I did a cleanse like the one she mentions in the book but I did it for three months and I felt wonderful. I lost 45lbs by doing that and exercise for several months and I have never felt better in my life. I had so much trouble losing weight before but when I became conscious of my eating and what I was eating and the cruelty that I allowed in my food, I lost weight. I could no longer continue to eat the junk and animal products that I had in the past.
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend I went through my physical environment and threw out(donated or recycled) so much stuff.It was as if a weight had been lifted off me. I still have a lot to go through get rid of. I am a pack rat by nature and I tend to keep stuff because of, well any reason. I do feel better and I will continue to do so.
I have really enjoyed this book so far and can not wait to read the rest.
I always feel so much better after donating old clothing and household stuff that I rarely use. Even though I'm anti-stuff by nature, it somehow manages to creep in when I'm not paying attention, and clearing it out makes me feel totally refreshed.
ReplyDeleteI recently went on a cleanse (inspired by Kris Carr's book, Crazy Sexy Diet) that involved eating mostly raw, exercising, drinking green juice, and meditating, and I felt great! I even gave up caffeine, which I've been having every morning since 5th grade! I'm excited to hear about all the other VN Book Clubbers' experiences with Quantum Wellness!
Hi! I want to jump in, but I am confused as to where to post about the discussion questions. Am I in the right place?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi everyone, and thanks for your comments! And to answer your question Kate, you are in the right place to share your thoughts on the discussion points. Personally, I find the book quite interesting, and I would love to try out a cleanse in the near future—maybe in the new year. I would also love to start clearing out my home. It is so cluttered with stuff at the moment, and I know clearing a lot of it out will help to clear my mind. I look forward to reading more of your comments!
ReplyDelete~VegNews Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I am trying to get off caffeine because it is an addiction and I'm sure that it is depleting nutrients as well. Other than that, my diet is already very clean so maybe I am in permanent cleanse mode. No gluten. And I love that. And I love not eating animals. It is so liberating. I have fewer tummy aches and better digestion.
ReplyDeleteOf the three it feels that the spirit is the most important because my mind and emotions are not finding much to be happy with right now. So the spirit offers a retreat from the stress of this world. It's like a touch stone - once I feel more clear inside then my mind and emotions also are more still and calm.
I am sooooo far behind on reading this book so I can not comment on any of the discussion questions this week. I am excited about this book though and hope to get caught up and join in over the weekend!
ReplyDeleteNew follower here, just found this blog ! Looking foreward to particpating in the future.
ReplyDeleteHello, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI have really been enjoying Freston's book thus far. I have never read anything by her, and I have found her writing voice to be quite soothing during the stressful holiday month! :)
While I feel that I am almost in a state of a permanent cleansing mode (through a clean diet and exercise-eeek! minus coffee), I have been deeply touched by Freston's incorporation of cleansing all areas of one's life. It has been easy to fall into the trap of thinking that since my diet is clean, I am healthy. Yet I have truly failed in analyzing other areas of what being healthy defines.
While my body is being nourished (despite the coffee addiction!! hehe), I have really starved my mind, emotions, and spirituality. However, I have found Freston's proposed ideas of working on one thing, in smaller steps, to be very refreshing.
Unfortunately I always give into thinking that it is all or nothing-which is an awful way of looking at things. Her approach is so practical and logical that I do not feel stressed or overwhelmed by the growth needed to change and nurture other facets of my life.
I am really excited to read more thoughts from others and continue on in our discussion!
I will start the book now, but I can already hop in the discussion. I am now ending a 3 days juice cleanse. I enjoyed it very much, and was surprise that i could actually go 3 days without food (MIND). However, this last day was the hardest. I definitely lacked energy, and could not think of anything else but food. I am sure my BODY needs complete nutrients, not just juices. I am proud of this accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteThe goal for me was to give my body a well deserved break from digesting alot of not so healthy holiday goodies. I also wanted to get a kick start to better eating habits which to me consists of not consuming animal products anymore. When I think of all the torture they have to go through to get to our plates, i just can't contribute to it. I feel connected to these creatures (SPIRIT).
I believe the mind, body and soul are all strongly connected, and when one experiences an imbalance, it impacts our physical or mental health.
Hi everyone! It's so great to read all of your comments, and some really great things were shared. You guys are truly giving me some motivation to do a cleanse, which I'm thinking about doing after the holidays. Again, thanks for your thoughts, and I'll be wrapping up this week's discussion tomorrow. Good night!
ReplyDelete~VegNews Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig